Moonlighting

Director: Jerzy Skolimowski
Year Released: 1982
Rating: 3.0

Four Polish workers (led by master electrician Jeremy Irons) travel to London to fix up a rich Pole's apartment for a fraction of the price the Brits would charge - to keep them working steadily (while skimping on funds), Irons is reduced to stealing food and lying to his own men to keep them working harder (he only allows them a few hours sleep) and keeping from them the knowledge of a political coup taking place back home. Like Skolimowski's other work, there's a lot going on here - the happenings within the dingy apartment represent Poland itself, and Irons' character can be considered a crude Capitalist who exploits his comrades' labor. The minimal approach and documentation of simple events build up to a much grander statement - it's political, yes, but not preachy.